Michael Gove apologises as May aide quits

Ministers have fought in public over allegations of a failure to tackle Islamist extremism in schools

Education secretary Michael Gove has apologised to David Cameron over his row with home secretary Theresa May.

The move comes as May’s special adviser Fiona Cunningham resigned following an investigation ordered by David Cameron into the dispute between two of his most senior ministers.

Gove and May have clashed over how to tackle extremism amid allegations of an Islamist plot in some Midlands schools.

The row erupted after Gove aides told The Times newspaper that the education secretary felt the Home Office was soft on extremism. May retaliated by releasing a letter she sent Gove accusing him of failing to act when the concerns over Birmingham schools were brought to his attention in 2010.

David Cameron has vowed to "sort out" the dispute. He has asked Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to investigate.

Gove will face questions from MPs tomorrow about the alleged Trojan Horse plot. Education watchdog Ofsted is inspecting 21 schools in Birmingham as a result of the allegations.

Meanwhile, shadow schools minister Kevin Brennan says both ministers should lose their jobs as they breached the ministerial code with their briefings to The Times. He told the BBC: "Really, neither of them should remain in post".